Counter Culture.

At Jimmy's You Need to Head to the Back For the Goods.

Jimmy's Food Store
4901 Bryan Street
East Dallas

Ambiance: 4 out of 4 cannolis
Food: 4 out of 4 cannolis
Service: 4 out of 4 cannolis

Every time I run into someone from Dallas who hasn't heard of or hasn't been to Jimmy's Food Store, I feel a little sad. These people haven't had some of the best sandwiches in the city. And what good is a life without great sandwiches?

Jimmy's produces what I like to think of as an east coast-style Italian sandwich — the kind you'd get in a corner pizza place in New York City or a hoagie place in Philly.

The absolute killers on the menu are the sausage and peppers sub (made with home-made spicy or regular Italian sausage) and the Italian Beef sandwich. The Italian beef is made with thinly shaved beef, au jus, spicy gardineria and melted cheese. As a sandwich, it is a huge mess to eat. But it is fantastic.

And you can either take your food to go or eat on one of the tables inside or out on the patio. Either way, though, expect a short wait. Great, fresh sandwiches, after all, take a little time.

While you are waiting for your sandwich, make sure you walk around the store — but, be a little warned, you may be tempted to make another purchase in the interim. I mean, how can you pass up fresh made pasta? Sometimes you can't.

That's part of what makes Jimmy's such a treat, though. It's just one of those store that makes a neighborhood great. It's even better when the food there happens to be some of the best you'll find in town.

Wait, did you just try to leave without dessert? Get a cannoli. Trust me. They are really, really good.